Compartmented pressurized dispensing device



3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Jafz P. Madderhra mgm/QL A ORNEYS J. P. MODDERNO COMPARTMENTED FRESSURIZED DISPENSING DEVICE t.J F ILIJI l/ J f T if Y- Filed Feb. 9, 1965 June 14, 1966 June 14, 1966 J. P. MODDERNO COMPARTMENTED PRESSURIZED DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Feb. 9, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Jaim F? Madder'fza mgm ATTORNEYS June 14, 1966 J. P. MODDERNO 3,255,926

` COMPARTMENTED PRESSURIZED DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Feb. 9, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 F/L /A/A/E CONTI/NEE SECURE 0076/2 EOI/51 & VAL VE' T0 INNER COA/741015Z lll/SERT /N/VER CONTH/A/E- INTO 0076 CONTH/NEB SEAL 0075K COI/EE. T0 0U TEE CONTA/NEE ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,255,926 CUMPARTMENTED PRESSIJRIZED DHSPENSING DEVECE John il. lviodderno, Gainbriils, Md., assignor to Modern- Lab., Incorporated, Baitinrore, Md., a corporation of Maryland Filed Feb. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 431,42! 8 Claims. (Cl. 222-136) The present invention relates to a compartmented dispensing device designed for separately storing two or more ingredients of a multi-component system, and to the method of producing such dispensing device. More particularly, this invention relates to a dispensing device in which two or more materials are separately stored in nested containers, and are combined shortly before being dispensed from the device.

It will be appreciated that there are various compositions which cannot be marketed in pre-mixed form. Such compositions as hair dyes, dental impression formulas, polyurethanes, rubberized silicones, epoxies, polystyrene foam, foods, insecticides, lacquers, paint compositions, and other multi-component systems of the type wherein chemical reactions take place upon mixing of the cornponents, may be advantageously packaged in the compartmented dispensing devices of the present invention. Compositions of the above type require special packaging in order to maintain ythe ingredients distinct during shipment and in storage prior to sale, and yet allow the ingredients to be brought together in a convenient manner when their use is desired.

The present invention is directed broadly to the dispensing of all types of compositions of the above mentionedgeneral character which must be mixed in situ when use is desired. It is essential in the commercialization of such products that the reactive ingredients be held in states of inactivity for an indenite period of time to account for shipping and storage periods, to provide an effective product when needed.

The dispensing device of this invention meets these needs by providing an outer container for the storage of one ingredient, and an inner container containing another ingredient positioned within said outer container. The inner container has a closure which may be opened as will be described more fully hereinafter to enable the ingredients to be mixed prior `to dispensing the composition for its intended use.

Gne of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide an improved compartmented dispensing device suitable for packaging multi-component compositions, the ingredients of which should be separately stored until use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a compartmented dispensing device having inner and outer containers for storing separated ingredients in which means facilitating the mixing of the separated ingredients are operatively connected to the discharge nozzle assembly of the dispensing device.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a compartmented pressurized dispensing device which can be produced etlciently and economically.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved method for the production of compartmented dispensing devices.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the examination of the drawings, the following detailed description, and the appended claims.

In the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate like parts in the several views:

FIGURE l is an elevational cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a compartmented pressurized dispensing device in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIGURE 4- is a horizontal cross-sectional View taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3; and

FIGURE 5 is a llow diagram showing the steps for producing a dispensing device in accordance with the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, FIGURE 1 illustrates a typical compartmented pressurized dispensing device of the present invention in which an outer container l0 at its upper open end has a cup-shaped cover 12 clenched thereto by a rolling llange 14 to provide an hermetic seal between cover 12 and container 1i). The top of cover 12 denes a central aperture which is bonded by a rolled flange or bead 16. An annular insert I8 tits within the aperture and is provided with a rolled llange 2t) which embraces the bead 16 to form an hermetic seal at this point. Insert 1S has an apertured bottom 22 which is received and retained within a groove in an elongated annular gasket 24.

Rotatably positioned in gasket 24 is a discharged nozzle 26 which has a flared flange 28 providing an abutment for the upper end of gasket 24. At the lower end of discharge nozzle 26 there is formed a valve unit consisting of a plurality of apertures 29 which provides access to the interior of the discharge nozzle, and a valve stem 30 which in its normal position is in sealing engagement with a valve seat 32 formed by the bottom end of gasket 24. Due to the resiliency of gasket 24 which is formed of rubber or other suitable material, a lateral force applied to dellect the upper4 end of discharge nozzle 26 is effective to unseat valve stem 30 and to establish a flow path from the interior of container 10 .through apertures 29 into clischarge nozzle 26. To avoid inadvertent dellection of discharge nozzle 26, the discharge nozzle may be covered by a suitable ca not shown.` To this end, the discharge nozzle may be provided with exterior threads 34 so that the; cap may be threaded thereon.

An inner -container generally designated by reference numeral 36 is positioned within outer container 1t). In the present illustration, the inner container is in the form of a wide mouth bottle and may be made of glass or a suitable plastic. `Container 36 is generally rectangular in cross-section having short sides 38 and long sides 40 as shown in FIGURE 2. The inner container has a threaded upper neck 42 which may be threaded into a screw cap 44. Cap 44 is operatively connected to the discharge nozzle 26, and is preferably integral with the valve stem 30. It will be appreciated that with cap 44 operatively engaging neck 42, an ingredient within the inner container 36 is separated from the ingredient within outer con-- tainer 10.

Outer container 10 is provided with a pair of opposed longitudinally extending essentially V-shaped indentations 46. The pair of indentations 46 are preferably 180 apart. As shown in FIGURE 2, the depth of indentations 46 is such that the distance between the opposed indent-ations is less than the largest dimension of the inner container 36 in a horizontal plane, namely, the diagonal distance between opposite corners of the inner container.

The purpose of indentations 46 will now be described, assuming that the filled dispensing device is to be readied for use. In order to mix the ingredients within the inner and outer containers, the user rotates discharge nozzle 26 n the direction of the arrow shown in FIGURE l. This causes a corresponding rotation of cap 44, and initially, of the inner container 36. In the embodiment illustrated, the inner container 36 can rotate through only about before it abuts against indentations 46 .relative to the inner container so that the inner container becomes detached from cap 44 and falls by gravity to the dash line position shown in FIGURE 1. The dispensing device may now be shaken to -accomplish an intimate Iadmixture of the now combined ingredients in order to ready the device for use.

FIGURE 3 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention and differs from the previously described embodiment in the means employed to prevent free rotation of the inner container 36 so that cap 44 may be rotated relative to the inner container. A ring member 48 is positioned longitudinally within the outer container 10 by means of spaced pairs of dimples Si). The ring member is lformed of la resilient material so that it can be snapped into position between dimples 50. Rotation of the ring member within the outer container is prevented by opposed indentations 52 in the outer container which engage complementary shaped indentations 54 in ring member 48 as shown in FIGURE 4. Projecting inwardly from the ring member 48 are a plurality of sprues of rod-like elements 56 which are shown as engaging the long sides 40 of the inner container. In this manner, the inner container is prevented from rotating so that cap 44 may be deatched from neck 42 in the manner described previously in connection with the FIGURE 1 embodiment. While four rod members 56 are shown for the purposes of illustration, it will be appreciated that the same end result of restraining rotation of the inner cylinder could be obtained with only one or two such elements.

FIGURE 5 isa flow diagram illustrating a production line method of assemblying compartmented dispensing devices in accordance with the present invention. Assuming that the outer container has already been provided with abutment means such as the indent-ations 46 of FIGURE 1 or the ring member 48 of the FIGURE 3 embodiment; the outer container 10 is then partially illed with one of the ingredients, or with a mixture of compatible ingredients at a first filling station. Concurrently, the inner containers 36 are filled with another ingredient at a second iilling station. containers are then passed to an assembly station at which preassembled units consisting of cap 1.2, dispensing valve 26 and the associated structure including cap 44 are united to the inner container. At this time, cap 44 is threaded onto neck 42 of the inner container to seal oif the ingredient within ythe inner container. The discharge of -units from this station is preferably correl-atedwith the discharge of the partially filled outer containers from the iirst filling station. The subassemblies are then picked up by suitable gripping means or the like, and the covers 12 Iare placed in position upon the outer containers 10 with the inner containers positioned within the outer containers. Covers 12 may now be sealed to containers 10 vby flanges 14 or any other suitable means such as double seaming. Suitable conveyors, control means, etc. necessary to carry out the above described assembly method on a production line basis are in principle known and form no part of the present invention. The assembled dispensing device may be pressurized in known manner with a propellant such as one or more of the Freons, hydrocarbons, nitrogen, argon or other suitable inert gas. The dispensing device in this condition may be stored until use is desired, whereby rotation of the discharge valve 26 is effective to cause mixing of the ingredients within the containers in the manner described above.

Although the present invention has been described with particularity with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated, after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, means other than the The lled inner i speciiically disclosed abutment means for limiting rotation of the inner container, may be employed for this purpose. Also, while the invention has been described in connection with a pressurized dispensing device; cer- ,tain features of the invention may find use in la squeeze type of dispensing device. Accordingly, it is intended to encompass all such changes and modiic-ations as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A compartmented dispensing device for separately storing ingredients of a multi-component system until use is desired, comprising an outer container having an opening in one end thereof, rotatable -valve means for dispensing the contents of the device mounted within said opening, an inner container disposed within said outer container, a closure for said inner container supporting said inner container, means connecting said valve means and said closure to enable rotation of said valve means to disengage said closure from said inner container, said outer container at its inner periphery having means to engage portions of said inner container to prevent unlimited rotation thereof to thereby enable relative rotation between said closure and said inner container upon rotation of said valve means.

2. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said means to engage portions of said inner container project inwardly with respect to adjacent portions of the inner periphery of said outer container.

3. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said means to engage portions of said inner container include a pair of opposed inwardly projecting indentations in said outer container, said indentations being effective to limit the rotation of ysaid inner container to a maximum of about 4. A dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein said means to engage portions of said inner container include an essentially ring-shaped member supported at the inner periphery of said outer container intermediate the ends thereof, said member having inwardly extending abutment means adapted to be contacted by said inner container and to prevent unlimited rotation of said inner container.

5. A pressurized dispensing device for separately storing ingredients of a multi-component system until use is desired, comprising an outer container provided with an opening in one end thereof, an annular gasket secured within said opening, the lower end of said annular gasket constituting an annular valve seat, a valve device Kfor dispensing the contents of said dispensing device including a discharge nozzle portion retained within said annular gasket and adapted to be rotated therein, an annular valve stem positioned to normally engage said valve seat in sealed engagement therewith, said discharge nozzle portion above and adjacent to said annular valve stem being provided with at least one aperture therein, a noncylindrical inner container positioned within said outer container, a cap-like closure for said inner container integrally connected to the bottom of said annular valve stem, said closure being threadedly connected to and supporting said inner container within said outer container, said outer container at its inner periphery having means to engage portions of said inner container to prevent unlimited rotation thereof and to enable relative rotation between said closure and said inner container upon rotation of said discharge nozzle portion whereby said closure is disengaged from said inner container to eiiect mixing of the contents of said containers.

6. A mixing and dispensing container adapted to retain at least two miscible ingredients isolated from each other during storage and arranged to permit mixing of the same prior to dispensing for use as a mixed product, comprising in combination an outer container having an opening, a smaller inner receptacle within said outer container, a closed end for the outer receptacle, a discharge tube mounted in said closed end, said discharge tube having an `appendage at one end provided with a surface adapted to engage and maintain the inner receptacle in a tixed storage position within said container, said discharge tube and its appendage being mounted in said closed end to permit rotatable motion with respect to said outer container, means to prevent unlimited rotation of the inner receptacle upon rotation of the discharge tube, with respect to said outer container, whereby when, upon rotation of the discharge `tube and the appendage the inner receptacle will separate from the appendage and permit communication between the miscible contents of the inner receptacle with that in the container and the resulting mixing of the miscible ingredients, said conrainer being adapted to be emptied through said discharge tube by pressure being exerted upon the mixed ingredients therein.

7. A mixing and dispensing container adapted to retain at least two miscible ingredients isolated from each other during storage and arranged to permit mixing of the same prior to dispensing for use yas a mixed product, comprising in combination an outer container having an opening, a smaller inner receptacle Within said outer container, a closed end for the outer receptacle, a discharge tube rotatably mounted in said closed end and extending outwardly thereof to form a finger grip, said discharge tube having at its other end an appendage provided with a threaded surface adapted to engage and maintain the inner receptacle in a xed storage position within said container, said discharge tube and its appendage being mounted in said closed end to permit rotatable motion with respect to said outer container, means to prevent unlimited rotation of the inner receptacle upon rotation of the discharge tube with respect to said outer container whereby the inner receptacle may be separated from the appendage and permit communication between the miscible contents of the inner receptacle with that in the container and the resulting mixing of the miscible ingredients, said container being adapted to be emptied through said discharge tube by pressure being exerted upon the mixed ingredients therein.

8. A'mixing and dispensing container adapted to retain at least two miscible ingredients isolated from each other during storage and arranged to permit mixing of the same prior to dispensing for use as a mixed product, comprising in combination an outer container having an opening, a smaller inner receptacle within said outer container, a closed end for the outer receptacle, a discharge tube rotatably mounted in said closed end, said discharge tube having an appendage at one end provided with a surface adapted to engage and maintain the inner receptacle in a fixed storage position within said container, said discharge tube and its appendage being mounted in said closed end to permit rotatable motion with respect to said outer container, said outer container including means to prevent unlimited rotation of the inner receptacle upon rotation of the discharge tube with respect to said outer container whereby upon rotation of the discharge tube and the appendage the inner receptacle will separate from the appendage and permit communication between the miscible contents of the inner receptacle with that in the container and the resulting mixing of the miscible ingredients, said container being adapted to be emptied through said discharge tube by pressure being exerted upon the mixed ingredients therein.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 633,634 9/1899 Wright 222-145 1,038,932 9/1912 Miller Z22-145 2,881,808 4/1959 St. Germain 141-21 2,941,696 6/ 1960 Homrn 222-136 2,947,449 8/1960 Hernandez 222-136 X 2,973,883 3/1961 Modderno 222-94 3,020,688 2/ 1962 Modderno 53-36 3,117,404 1/ 1964 Miles 53-36 3,154,224 10/ 1964 Wakeman 222-394 3,157,315 11/1964 Bianco Z22-142.5 3,217,936 11/1965 Abplanalp Z22-136 RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A COMPARTMENTED DISPENSING DEVICE FOR SEPARATELY STORING INGREDIENTS OF A MULI-COMPONENT SYSTEM UNTIL USE IS DESIRED, COMPRISING AN OUTER CONTAINER HAVING AN OPENING IN ONE END THEREOF, ROTATABLE VALVE MEANS FOR DISPENSING THE CONTENTS OF THE DEVICE MOUNTED WITHIN SAID OPENING, AN INNER CONTAINER DISPOSED WITHIN SAID OUTER CONTAINER, A CLOSURE FOR SAID INNER CONTAINER SUPPORTING SAID INNER CONTAINER, MEANS CONNECTING SAID VALVE MEANS 